Spaceflight Now: Delta launch report
Photo Gallery: Delta 2 launches GPS 2R-4
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: May 11, 2000

A Boeing Delta 2 rocket launches a needed replacement satellite for the U.S. Air Force's Global Positioning System on May 10 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Images: Boeing TV/Spaceflight Now.

Poised for launch
The Delta 2 rocket sits atop pad 17A on Wednesday evening fueled and awaiting its launch into space. 		On pad
The business end
A camera positioned on the launch pad surface shows the bottom of the Delta 2 with the numbered strap-on solid rocket boosters seen. 		Boosters
Coming to life
A Boeing technician triggers the engine start switch in the control center to ignite the first stage main engine and two vernier steering jet. 		Ignition
Liftoff!
The first stage main engine starts and the six ground-lit solid rocket boosters are ignited to lift the Delta 2 rocket into the night sky. 		Liftoff
Heading on course
A ground tracking camera exaggerates the rocket's roll maneuver to begin the arcing flight downrange over the Atlantic Ocean. 		Roll
Shedding weight
The six soild rocket boosters ignited on the launch pad consume all their propellant and are jettisoned just over a minutes into flight. 		SRM sep

Video vault
The Boeing Delta 2 rocket lifts off on May 10 from pad 17A at Cape Canaveral carrying the GPS 2R-4 satellite for the U.S. Air Force.
  PLAY (361k, 40sec QuickTime file)
The Delta 2 rocket's three air-lit solid rocket boosters are ignited and the six ground-start motors are jettisoned.
  PLAY (198k, 21sec QuickTime file)
A time-lapsed movie shows the 12-story mobile service tower being rolled away from the Boeing Delta 2 rocket at launch pad 17A on April 21.
  PLAY (278k, 55sec QuickTime file)
Animation depicts the GPS satellites and the Global Positioning System orbital constellation.
  PLAY (235k, 40sec QuickTime file)
Download QuickTime 4 software to view this file.
Flight Data File
Vehicle: Delta 2 (7925)
Payload: GPS 2R-4
Launch date: May 11, 2000
Launch window: 0148-0217 GMT (9:48-10:17 p.m. EDT on 10th)
Launch site: SLC-17A, Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Pre-launch briefing
Launch Preview - Our story gives a complete report on the upcoming launch.

Launch timeline - Chart with times and descriptions of events to occur during the launch.

Orbit trace - A map shows the launch track for the mission.

Delta 2 rocket - Overview of the Delta 2 7925-model rocket used to launch GPS satellites.

Global Positioning System - Description of the U.S. Air Force's space-based navigation network.

GPS constellation - Chart shows the current status of the orbiting GPS satellite fleet.

MISSION STATUS CENTER